"As safe as this world gets now," Katie answered. "Which reminds me, I need to check in. "
Soon, Ralph's voice filled the cab.
"Yeah, we cleared out most of the town. No one in sight now. Awful mess though. All those bodies. I'll have to figure a way to get them away from the store so the stench won't be so bad. We're ready and clear for ya. Found Bill, our deputy sheriff was holed up down the road at the Parker place. He managed to get here on foot. Mighty brave of him. He wasn't
bit. So he's safe.
We'll put him and yer boy up in the living room on cots. "
"That's good news. You don't know how badly we want to get home. "
Katie couldn't help but smile at the thought of reaching the store.
"How's the gas?"
"Honestly, we're coming in on fumes. We. . ah…forgot the back up canisters. "
"Noticed. Well, stay yer course. Stay steady. You should make it back okay if you do. We'll be on the lookout for you. "
"Thanks, Ralph. We'll see you soon," Katie said and handed the CB transceiver to Jenni, who promptly secured it back to the dashboard.
Glancing into her rear view mirror, Katie saw Jason rubbing his eyes and nose. Jack was pressed up against him, whimpering softly, licking at his face. That brought a small smile to the boy's face and he hugged the dog tightly.
"Listen, both of you. We need to keep our heads together the rest of this trip. We can't lose it now. "
Jenni looked at Katie plaintively and sighed. "I know. I know. I blew it. "
"We just got lucky. But it could have gone down so much worse. You even left your gun behind. "
Jenni took a breath and let it out slowly. She ran her hands over her bedraggled ponytail. "I…I just wanted him to be alive. "
"And I am," Jason said. "But I don't want to lose my only family member. My only Mom. "
Jenni looked at him and gripped his hand over the back of her seat tightly. "I'll not lose it again. I'll be strong. "
Katie pushed her sunglasses up on her nose and sighed with relief. "We just can't let our emotions rule us. We just can't. We have to keep calm. "
She could see out of her peripheral vision that both of them were nodding. A little of the tightness in her belly lessened, but her hands still felt shaky inside.
Glancing at the fuel gauge she exhaled slowly. It was going to be tight.
No deviations.
No detours.
Straight on.
To safety.
To their new home.
And then…
The truck crested a hill and for a moment Katie couldn't draw a breath.
"Fuck," Jason blurted out.
"No," Jenni whispered in horror.